Modex

Modexes are also painted less conspicuously on other aircraft areas (i.e., fin tip, flaps, etc.).

5xx side numbers are assigned to the Electronic Attack (VAQ) squadron flying the EA-18G Growler.

6xx side numbers are assigned to the Airborne Early Warning (VAW) squadron (600-607) flying the E-2C (currently transitioning to the E-2D) Hawkeye, and the Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadron (610 and higher) flying the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.

as the CVW commander's (CAG's) aircraft (called the CAG bird) and paint its tail with squadron colors rather than with the subdued grey tone colors of the rest of the squadron's aircraft.

From the 1980s through the first decade of the 21st century, the 1xx and 2xx modexes identified the CVW's fighter (VF) squadrons flying the F-4 Phantom II or the F-14 Tomcat.

The 3xx and 4xx modexes initially identified the CVW's light attack (VA) squadrons flying the A-7 Corsair II or the F/A-18 Hornet.

The 5xx numbers belonged to the CVW's medium attack squadron (VA) flying the A-6 Intruder.

Those squadrons (VAW, VAQ, HS) were relatively small with only four (VAW and VAQ) or six to eight (HS) aircraft assigned as opposed to the other CVW squadrons each with 10 or more aircraft assigned.

The 7xx modexes belonged to the Air Anti-Submarine (later Sea Control) (VS) squadron flying the S-3 Viking.